Angel Di Maria’s year at Manchester United will go down alongside John Terry’s six-game loan spell at Nottingham Forest, Liverpool’s signing of Rickie Lambert and RadamelFalcao’s time at Old Trafford as mere blips in football’s space-time continuum. In hindsight, all four moves will be remembered as ones that probably shouldn’t have happened.
In the illustrious catalogue of players to have worn the famed No. 7 shirt at United, Di Maria was undoubtedly the most disappointing—and that’s even accounting for Michael Owen and Antonio Valencia. It’s not that the jersey weighed too heavily on the most expensive signing in Premier League history, but that it never really fitted him.
Di Maria should have been the perfect signing for United. He arrived at Old Trafford at a time when Van Gaal was desperate for some midfield energy and drive through the centre of the pitch. After such an insipid campaign the season before, Man Utd needed some star power too—the Argentinean looked to fit the bill in every way.
Indeed, the start made by the winger-turned-central-midfielder suggested Di Maria would quickly become one of the Premier League’s brightest stars, with three goals from his opening five games for his new club. But such form soon dried up, scoring just once more (against Yeovil Town) and leaving Di Maria fighting for his first-team place by the close of his debut Premier League campaign.
It was little wonder, then, that Van Gaal sought to sell so soon after, with Paris Saint-Germain completing a £44.3 million move for the Argentine last week.
United must now look for a replacement, and by all accounts they seem to have identified one—Barcelona’s Pedro Rodriguez, per Simon Jones of the MailOnline. The Spanish international is expected to leave Camp Nou this summer—reportedly asking to leave Barcaon Tuesday, as per BBC Sport—in search of more regular first-team football, and he would appear to be the perfect fit for United.
The Old Trafford club—still in the middle of a complete squad overhaul—have been smarter this summer, signing players not just on the weight of their reputation but on their suitability. Morgan Schneiderlinmight not sell many shirts, but he is exactly the kind of player Van Gaalneeded to anchor his central unit—particularly in the event of an injury to Michael Carrick.
Di Maria was signed by United primarily as a central midfielder following his astonishing success in that position for Real Madrid the season before, but he was soon shifted on to the wing, and even into attack. He was positionally messed around by Van Gaal and so was never really the natural fit he appeared to be upon his arrival in England.
In that sense, Pedro is better suited for United, given that he only has just one position. There is little chance of Van Gaal using him as anything other than a flank operator and speedy attacking option. The Spanish international is not a particularly versatile player, but in this case that is certainly no bad thing.
Pedro was handed just 15 starts for Barcelona last season, yet he still managed to contribute six goals and six assists as the Catalans clinched a treble of trophies. His omission from Luis Enrique’s starting lineup was not down to his own personal decline, yet rather the arrival of Luis Suarez. Pedro might not be good enough to displace any of European football’s best attacking trio, but that shouldn’t taint what he can offer United.
Against Tottenham in Saturday’s Premier League opener, United were somewhat lacking in attacking flair, grinding out a win only after a Kyle Walker own goal. With Memphis Depay deployed in a central position, Van Gaal’s side is crying out for some pace on the wings, and that is certainly something Pedro will offer.
Of course, Di Maria should have contributed that quality—if it were not for his reluctance to track back and adopt Van Gaal’s philosophy. In any other circumstance, his sale to PSGwould have been painted as a damning indictment of the OldTrafford club. After all, even after such a dismal campaign the Argentine is still regarded as one of the world’s best players, which is underlined by his £44.3 million price tag. On the face of it, he is the kind of player Man Utd—especially in their current situation—should be at pains to keep.
But Van Gaal was right to cast off Di Maria at the first possible opportunity, especially with PSG so willing to reimburse United for much of the £59.7 million paid to Real Madrid last summer. The 27-year-old clearly didn’t wish to remain in England, and so there was little point in keeping a player whose commitment was in such doubt.
Apart from anything else, United’s upturn in the second half of the season coincided with Di Maria’s downturn. Van Gaalsimply couldn’t find a place for the former Real Madrid man in his lineup, eventually benching him in favour of Ander Herrera. In fact, Man Utd’s improvement came immediately after Di Maria’s dismissal in the FA Cup defeat to Arsenal. They were simply a better team with their most expensive player on the bench.
"I'm happy because I know my wife and child will be happy in Paris," Di Maria explained upon his unveiling in the French capital, as per BBC Sport. "It wasn't just my decision to leave. If I left it was also because they decided to sell me. The three parties agreed. Me, Manchester United and PSG agreed the deal.” As the player himself attests, the transfer was to the benefit of all involved—a rarity in the modern game’s transfer window.
Van Gaal’s United is still taking shape, and with Pedro in the side it will be somewhat more distinguishable. Di Maria might have looked a good fit initially, but given what we know now, Pedro is the player they needed all along.
